Comfort in Sketching

I'm continuing to prepare for the Sketchbook Challenge by gathering tools. I've heard so much good feedback on the Lamy fountain pen with an ink converter and Noodler's bulletproof ink, that I treated myself with a gift certificate. It should arrive soon and I'll put it to the test. I plan to challenge myself with new techniques as the year rolls on, but for now we are starting simply. A little watercolor, a little thread sketching and a little text collage. Perfect for a snowy December morning. The Babylock is set up again after a long renovation hiatus. I feel whole again. Sigh.

New Studio Taking Shape

Kitchen 2005

Kitchen in process

Dining Room circa 2002--now my studio

My dedicated studio builder at work

We created these doors by painting our brown doors, changing out the hardware for satin nickel levers and hinges, and having some stainless steel strips cut to add a design element. Fancy! They're not trimmed out yet.

Voila! Here's where we are today.

I'm calling our new decorating scheme "Mid-Century Unfinished." Atomic Ranch meets construction site, lol. But progress continues. The kitchen table has to go, in favor of something lighter. All of the totes under my drafting table have to be sorted. It's still cluttered, but that gives me something to work in the upcoming months. I'm mostly moved into the new studio, but still need to do additional downsizing. I love my new "floating bookshelves" which look magical. The best part about a new studio is a place for (almost) everything and everything in its place. The other best part is having so much natural light, with a big sliding glass door next to my drafting table. I feel like the queen perched in the middle of the main floor. LOVE IT! There is still a ton to do before we even get to the floors, but I'm settled in for a long winter and ready to make some ART! Here's my little studio helper.

Sketchbook Challenge 2011

I'm so excited to be a part of the Sketchbook Challenge project. Sketch along with us during the upcoming year and share your pages on the Sketchbook Challenge Flickr site. We'll be announcing a new topic at the beginning of each month and 15 professional artists will offer their pages for your consumption. I'll be posting here and on the Challenge site as well. Don't forget to subscribe to our Youtube page as well, for a series of video tutorials. Did I mention the Facebook page? Come along with Carla Sonheim, Jane Davies, Jane LaFazio, Melanie Testa, Susan Sorrell, Jill Berry, Sue Bleiweiss, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Lyric Kinard, Carol Sloan, Diana Trout, Jami Fingal, Judi Hurwitt, Laura Cater-Woods, Violette and me! We'll also be interviewing other sketch artists and discussing the purposes, meaning and inspiration for your sketchbook. The cherry on top is a cascade of prizes from delicious artsy vendors. BIG prizes. All you'll need to do is post your sketchbook pages to Flickr. Get your pencils, pens and paints ready...this is the year that your sketchbook will begin to sizzle!

Living, Breathing and Dancing to the Renovation

Renovation, Revolution, it's all the same. I've fallen off the planet while we create order at home. Here's some of our progress. Before and in process kitchen photos. We still have to install a new sink, countertops and backsplash. The floor (pecan distressed wood laminate) will happen in the new year. The cabinets were stripped and painted and new hardware installed. The windows are new and we just added a new light fixture above the sink. I love my new stainless range hood and the nifty shelf for the microwave! The window area is bright turquoise and the adjoining walls are gray and seafoam. I'll be adding a mosaic shelf of river rocks above the sink.

                    

This is the master bedroom project. It was most recently my studio and the music room and now it's becoming our bedroom. The shades are DIY turquoise silk and the walls are chocolate and soft gray. We'll be building a platform bed and headboard next. Note the fab ceiling fan. Everything is fitting into our "atomic ranch" style choices.

The other room we're working on is for daughter. It's limalicious! All the windows are new so the whole house looks so much brighter, even before the color enhancement!

My studio was in a pile but should be up and running soon in the old dining room. Can't wait! I'll share more photos as we go. One last shot...here's the guy who's making it all happen for me. My carpenter, electrician and design partner :) He has a wrecking bar, and he's not afraid to use it!